Experts Advise Against Using Additives for E10 Gasoline
Ahead of the nationwide distribution of E10 gasoline starting June 1, 2026, many concerns have been raised about its potential effects on vehicle engines.
However, experts, associations, and regulatory agencies assert that there is no scientific basis for these claims, and advise the public to be cautious with advertisements for additives specifically marketed for E10 gasoline.
No Recorded Negative Impact of E10 on Vehicle Engines
Mr. Do Van Tuan, Chairman of the Vietnam Biofuels Association, stated that E10 gasoline has been widely used in many countries such as Europe, the US, Australia, India, Thailand, the Philippines, and China for many years.
According to Mr. Tuan, if this fuel did not meet technical and quality standards, it would not have persisted long-term and gained the trust of global consumers. Therefore, rumors that E10 can affect or damage vehicle engines lack clear scientific evidence.
Petrolimex sales point at No. 1 Luong Yen, Hanoi, fully converted to E10 gasoline. Photo: Tran Viet/TTXVN
Mr. Tuan added that most motorcycles manufactured since 2000 are already compatible with E10. During the drafting of Circular No. 50/2025/TT-BCT by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which mandates the blending ratio of biofuels with traditional fuels in Vietnam, the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM) also confirmed that these vehicles can safely use E10.
Current fuel tanks are treated and coated internally; fuel lines and related components are also designed to be compatible with this biofuel. Thus, concerns about E10 affecting newer motorcycles are unfounded.
According to Mr. Dao Duy Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Industrial Promotion, Ministry of Industry and Trade, during the development of the biofuel roadmap, the ministry conducted surveys and assessments on the impact of E5 and E10 biofuels on engine performance and lifespan.
Evaluation results from scientists at Hanoi University of Science and Technology and the University of Transport and Communications showed that E5 and E10 have almost no significant negative impact on the operating performance or lifespan of engine components for gasoline engines.
Notably, Vietnam has used E5 nationwide since 2018, and E10 was piloted from August 2025. To date, distribution companies and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have received no feedback that E5 or E10 negatively affects engine performance or lifespan.
International experience also shows that biofuels have been used for a long time. The US and Brazil have used E10 since the 1980s. In Southeast Asia, Thailand and the Philippines currently use up to E15 and are even moving to E20 without significant negative effects on vehicle engines.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the Petroleum and Gas Trading Management Division, Domestic Market Management and Development Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, stated that vehicles manufactured from 2022 onward basically meet the requirements for using E10 under Euro 3, Euro 4, and Euro 5 emission standards.
"For other vehicles, according to reports from Petrolimex and PV Oil, the two units that introduced E10 to the market from August 1, 2025, there have been no complaints or recommendations regarding the quality of E10 for cars and motorcycles in circulation since its launch. This reality partly shows that concerns about E10 harming engines currently lack a basis from actual deployment data," Mr. Tuan said.
Users Should Be Cautious of "Rumors" About Additives
From June 1, 2026, E10 biofuel will officially be distributed nationwide according to the roadmap in Circular No. 50/2025/TT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Ahead of the rollout, many social media comments expressed concerns about E10's compatibility with car and motorcycle engines.
Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang, an automotive expert and administrator of the Oto+ forum with over 1 million Facebook members, believes that E10 should be approached based on technical grounds and international usage experience, rather than a psychological fear of a new fuel.
"I think we should view E10 as a fuel that has been verified in practice for many years, not as a completely new technology. In the US and many developed countries, biofuels have been widely used for a long time. In fact, in many international markets, it's hard to find pure mineral gasoline without ethanol. Even in Vietnam, E5 has been deployed for several years. In the early stages, there were many debates about using E5. However, after a period of actual use, the market stabilized and consumers got used to this fuel," Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang said.
According to this expert, the key point is that most car and motorcycle manufacturers today have designed fuel systems compatible with ethanol-blended gasoline. If E10 truly had serious effects on engine durability, it would be very difficult for this fuel to have existed for decades and be used in hundreds of millions of vehicles worldwide.
Additionally, E10 also contributes to emission reduction goals. When ethanol is blended into gasoline, combustion becomes cleaner, reducing CO, soot, and other emission components compared to traditional mineral gasoline. This is a trend many countries are adopting to reduce the environmental impact of personal transportation.
Regarding the many advertisements on social media for additives specifically for E10, Mr. Thang said that using E10 does not mean additives are mandatory. If the fuel meets standards and the vehicle is compatible, it can be used normally without any supplements.
In reality, when automakers certify E10 compatibility, they base it on standard fuel specifications and do not require any additives. The most important factors remain fuel quality and vehicle maintenance.
Users should also be cautious of floating additive products or excessive advertisements. Additives are not always bad, but if used improperly or from unknown sources, they can have the opposite effect.
Thu Trang/ Tin tuc and Dan toc
